The assignments for this Tutorial are described in the pages linked to the left. This section contains the assignments for the current seminar. Because the details of assignments sometimes change during a semester, these online assignment descriptions are the authoritative versions. The online versions will not shift without notice, however; any changes will be announced by email to the class.

Grading

To get credit for this class, you need to meet certain miniumum requirements: attend class regularly (every time you are able to, missing no more than three sessions total), contribute regularly and constructively to the intellectual life of the class, and complete all of the assignments, mostly on time. "Mostly on time" means that up to three assignments can come in late. All late assignments need to be completed within two weeks of the original deadline, except at the end of the semester, when I cannot accept student work after the end of finals week.

Beyond those minimum expectations, we will establish your grade for the course in a conversation between us, a conversation that will happen in person and in writing during the semester. I will not write letter grades on any of your individual assignments. Instead, we will talk about your learning, asking questions such as these:

• Where are you seeing yourself make progress?
• Where do you see the need to push yourself to grow as a learner?
• Are you doing the best work you can do for the class? If not, what are the obstacles you face, and how can we talk about them?
• How are you becoming an important contributor to the intellectual community of the class?
• Are you gaining the skills of writing, reading, speaking, and discussion that you think you will need for the rest of your time at Grinnell? If not, how can we work together to help you gain those skills?

I realize that this approach is likely different from what you have experienced in high school, and it is also different from how I grade other classes. I have adopted this method as a sign of respect for the different kinds of transformations that occur in the first semester of college, and especially in the Tutorial, with its unique role in introducing students to the academic life of the college.

This approach depends on trust--that you trust my support and good will, and that I trust your effort and good faith. I am confident that we will find a way to make the Tutorial a valuable learning experience for each of you.